SGM Leon “Pappy” Kline

SGM Leon “Pappy” Kline enlisted in the Army at the age of 15 in 1931. He served in various jobs lost to time during the interwar years. His mark on the United States Army Ordnance Corps was made when he volunteered for service in the newly formed bomb disposal units during World War II.

As one of the earliest Soldiers to attain proficiency as a bomb disposal specialist, the history of those early deeds impacted the coming generations. SGM Kline passed on his knowledge of bomb disposal as an instructor at NAVSCOLEOD during three separate tours. Several of his EOD assignments are lost to history, but his know assignments include Europe, Korea, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, Virginia, Fort Richardson, Alaska (1952-1954), Vietnam, and Army Liaison SGM, Naval School EOD, Naval Ordnance Station, Indian Head, Maryland. He served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, often on the cutting edge of the nascent EOD field. He provided key leadership and mentorship to the still forming Army EOD mission and force. In his tours as an instructor, he was instrumental in bringing the students from Aberdeen to the new EOD School at Indian Head, MD and mentoring young EOD technicians.

His most notable accomplishments, beyond firmly establishing modern EOD’s place in the United States Army, is his role in the creation of the Master EOD Badge, as well as, the EOD Memorial Wall. These cultural cornerstones form inextricable links of camaraderie across all four services of EOD. Even beyond these accomplishments, while still on Active Duty, SGM Kline was involved in establishing the EOD Scholarship fund for children of fallen EOD technicians as well as helping to organize and establish the EOD Ball to that helps fund it. SGM Kline’s service to the EOD community went even further when in 1989 he was instrumental in the founding of the National EOD Association which helped to continue to foster bonds of kinship across generations and services for all those that earned the right to proudly wear the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge. All these accomplishments and involvement in the EOD community left a prominent mark on the EOD force as it grew from a very small community of highly specialized Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines to one that has proved vitally important in recent wars.

SGM Kline’s notable awards and accomplishments include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Master Explosive Ordnance Badge.

SGM Kline retired in 1973 and passed away in 2000. He fostered esprit de corps for all those who passed Explosive Ordnance Disposal training. He gave them the tools to be successful both tactically and technically with the bonds of kinship to withstand one of the most demanding jobs in the world.